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Saturday, July 05, 2008

Has it been three years already?

I can't believe it... this is the third anniversary of us journaling our culinary adventures - crazy I tell you! I never would have thought we would still be doing this when we started three July's ago!

We did have a couple breaks caused from moving or vacations, but we've pretty much posted daily over these past years. Remember we started this way back west out in the desert heat of Phoenix, made a tremendous move to a farm-like area in Maryland and have now settled back in the suburbs of Minneapolis. How long will we be here? Time will tell, but so far it looks like we are planting our roots for the time being.

Besides starting the blog back in Phoenix, that location was also the jumping off point of the Weekly Wednesday Treat Day! Being able to share our creations with Jeff's co-workers brings such joy and satisfaction, along with giving me a reason to try out new recipes! Speaking of, I went through and made a rough tally of our insane list of recipes - we have prepared, eaten and posted over 1,340! It is hard to believe that just a few years ago we survived on pizza, chicken fingers, fries and cereal since we didn't know any better! The question now becomes, do we continue our journey here? Are you still interested in our daily eats and what works for us?

In honor of this anniversary, Jeff and I have decided to hold our first ever giveaway! Here is your chance at a free copy of Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill cookbook. Just leave us a comment (with someway to contact you if you don't have it in your profile) to have your name thrown into the Dutch oven we'll draw the names from. Please, only enter once and we'll take names until Wednesday, 07/09/08.

I went back and fourth, trying to figure out what we could make to celebrate this occasion and settled on these stunning Espresso Cheesecake Brownies from one of our go-to cookbook authors, Dorie Greenspan.

I decided on this recipe mainly because Jeff has an insatiable craving for coffee-flavored treats and I kind of have an affinity for them too. With three distinct layers, the bottom of these bars is a thin fudgy brownie, followed by a luscious espresso-laced cream cheese layer and topped off with a rich blanket of sweetened sour cream. Those spots in the middle layer? Those are dollops of the same brownie batter that makes up the bottom layer - we just swirled it into the cheesecake layer before baking.

When you go to swirl those two concoctions together, don't try to make a pretty design, just quickly go through it a couple times with a butter knife. Also, take care not to go too far down so you don't interrupt the brownie slab on the bottom. Doneness can always be a little hard to tell with cheesecakes - the top of these bars should be puffy, lightly golden around the edges with the center being a touch beige. Before you add that final, delectable sour cream topping, the brownies will have needed to cool down completely and gone for a stint in the refrigerator to chill out. They will also need to chill again once that topping is on to set. All that time is worth it as you'll be rewarded with one tidy bang up treat that Jeff and I indulged in way too much of this afternoon! I'll even share my piece, can I tempt you with a bite?

Congratulations Joe! I'm a frequent lurker on your blog here (just made the red velvet cupcakes from here...the frosting was awesome!). I only read a couple blogs and yours is one. You do a fabulous job.

Congrats on your blogging for 3 years--that is very impressive! I have enjoyed so many of your recipes...I am still very interested in reading about your daily eats!! I cannot imagine how much time and effort it must take to blog daily like you do--thank you so much for all of your posts!

I just want to tell you (I think I did once before!) that I LOVE your blog and have never been disappointed with any recipe you've posted here. Everything is just SO enticing! It's always real food for real people. Please keep it up! I read every post on my google reader and look forward to each one. Kim (sometimes in Canada- sometimes in Europe)

Three years is a milestone, but you must keep it up. You have too many faithful readers who enjoy your writing style and your great pictures and recipes. Congratulations for all the great blogs. Please include me in the drawing. Bobby also has some great recipes. Jancd

Congratulations on three years of blogging about your culinary adventures. You've come a long way from pizza, cereal, and chicken fingers! Wow! Over 1340 recipes!! While I don't often comment, I frequently read, so yes!, I'd like to see you continue sharing your culinary adventures.

If you pull my name out of the dutch oven, you won't have far to send the book!! :-)

First off, congrats on 3 years. My blog will be 1 year old end of August and I am exhausted from all the blogging but loving it. I just recently found your blog and am enjoying your culinary adventures -- you are creative and adventuresome in cooking and please please don't quit! Throw my name in the hat and BTW I also have an affinity for coffee and chocolate and will be making these wonderful cheesecake brownies soon -- and will let you know how they turn out. Thanks for all your hard work; count me as a regular.

congratulations on your anniversary. Add me to the list of those that want to see your journey continue. And while your at it, throw my name into the dutch oven, so to speak! My email:kbwaldman@gmail.com

I've been enjoying your blog for quite a few months now. Keep at it! While my first love is baking, your dishes often inspire me to cook something yummy for dinner. I made the Cherry Revel Bars a few weeks ago. They tasted great, but I didn't bake them quite long enough, so a bit gooey. Loved having a reason to use the fresh cherries.Love Bobby Flay!Katrina

Its wonderful that you have a talent you can share with the rest of the world. I have your blog in my favorite list and love to read your comments and recipes.You just don't know who you are going to enrich on any given day. Keep it up!

Dear Joe and Jeff, Congratulations on your third Anniversary of writing this excellent blog. I have been with you since the move back East from Phoenix. I have become a much better cook, and have a much happier family because of it. They know that something good is coming every time they look to me for food. Thank you very much for all your good recipes and all the labor that it takes to make them and write about them.Also all the searching you do to get new ideas for cooking. I hope with all my heart that you will continue.I would be inconsolable if you would stop this blog. In case that you are getting a little weary at times, I hope you will consider other avenues to promote your talent. Write a cookbook, teach cooking, and there are more, but I don't want to overwhelme you with ideas. Thank you, Sincerely, Rita

Please, please, please continue! I've been lurking for close to 2 years and, while I've commented just a couple of times, I regularly bookmark and later make your recipes, and send links to friends. The nerd in me is happy that you are so diligent with both your grammar and spelling, on top of the amazing array of recipes.

Congrats on your anniversary! Here's hoping for many more years to come!

Joe and Jeff, You've given us three years of delightful reading and eating. I count on you to guide me to the best of Cooking Light and other magazines and you never fail. I have no idea how you manage to do all that you do. The people and dogs in my life are indebted to you.

Please please please keep the blog going. I love reading about all the neat stuff you are making, I'm envious of Jeff's coworkers, and I've tried so many things I never would have gone near if I hadn't seen them here. I don't want an entry into the cookbook draw (I'm allergic to far too much of Mr. Flay's cooking) but I wanted to ask you to keep the blog going!

I love your blog! You always end up reviewing the same Everyday Food recipes that I clip before I get around to them :) I would love a shot at a new cookbook - if you say its good, we will probably love it too! Thanks and keep up the great blogging!

Please don't leave us in the lurch, Joe - I read your blog daily and thoroughly enjoy it, and appreciate the hard work it must take to be so faithful with a daily blog! I don't have a blog, so guess I have to log in as anonymous. I'd love to try for the cookbook - thank you for offering it!

Joe-Your blog was one of the first I ever found. I lurk on the CL board alot and found you there. I must tell you that this blog and YOU were my introduction to the Food Blog world! You have been very inspirational and instrumental in getting this stay at home Mom back into the kitchen again. Baking and cooking are both passions of mine, though baking does have a bit of a lead. But with 2 little boys hanging onto me all the time and BEGGING me to play Super-heroes with them, I was feeling lazy about getting into the kitchen. Now I'm making the time for them and for me! Thanks so much for that. PLEASE!! Keep up the excellent work! You are Fabulous!

I haven't been visiting that long but I totally love the recipes you post. When I get stick on with to make I come to your site to see what you have had and and try it. Never disappointed. I really enjoy your site and would miss it if you stopped.

Hi Joe (and Jeff!)Please do continue the blog! Yours is the ONLY one I read daily and have tried many of the recipes! Please do thrown my name in the oven:-) and I was planning to write this comment before I even saw the give away! Thanks!

Joe! I've really enjoyed reading your blog for the last couple of years (we've even exchanged an email or two about various recipes). I hope you keep it up, I think it's exciting to read about your expanding food horizons and all the cooking skills you've picked up.

Hi Joe.Congratulations on three years of blogging.You guys absolutely have to continue giving us your delicious recipes and meal ideas. I don't try as many as I would like to but I love knowing that this precious resource is here whenever I need inspiration.Keep up the good work,Jackie

Congrats! Please keep up the daily postings; you are part of my morning ritual -- coffee, the paper, 3 blogs (one of which is yours) and off I go to embrace the day! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend; I just returned from a lovely lake in northern Michigan with my 2 teenagers and a big extended family; such fun! Victoria

I have another thought I would like to tell you about, concerning your work here with your blog and the cooking that it envolves.Maybe you could just blog every other day or even once a week, to take the pressure off of you. The other thng is, that we will love you guys no matter what will happen in the future with the blog, we will then just have to buy the cookbooks that you are goi ng to write,the TV shows that will follow etc. Have a great Sunday.

Joe - Actually, I was surprised to hear it had only been 3 years. ;-) You have done such a wonderful job, it's a delight to come over and see what you're up to - I just need to visit more often. I greatly admire your faithfulness to blogging and, well, just about everything else you do. :)

As to continuing, of course we'd all love it if you did, but IMO, you need to do it for yourself, not us. When my blog becomes a chore and not fun, I take a break. Not good for readership, but good for me and good for my family.

I have recently discovered that I really like Bobby Flay, so please throw my name in the hat as well. :)

I've been reading your blog for about a year, and I must say it is probably the most practical food blog I read-- in that, I've cooked a way higher proportion of recipes from your site than any of the others I read. (And I read LOTS!)

Happy Anniversary! You can't quit now. I read a lot of food blogs but usually end up here because you offer recipes with a slight twist from the norm and I usually have the ingredients in my cupboard. I'm looking forward to three more years of good cooking.

You were joking about not continuing, right?? I love your blog, you write about food like no one else! If you think you should cut back on the posting a little, that's fine. (Not really, I'm just saying that to be polite!)But what I think you should do is channel this gift you have somehow...Don't put my name in the dutch oven, I prefer your cooking to Bobby Flay's!

Congrats! I love reading your blog and using your recipes. I have used a lot of your recipes in my cooking schedule for work, home, potlucks and such - you are a HIT! Hope you have many more years of blogging for us to enjoy!

Hmmmm. Dorie does have some good stuff in Baking from My Home To Yours. After doing some of Tuesdays with Dorie, I keep hearing about recipes I had not seen yet, even though I look through the book often. Congratulations!

Joe,Please do continue your blog! I try a lot of your recipes. We just had a family favorite, the Lasagna Soup last night! If nothing else, it inspires me to try my own new recipes as often as possible.

Congrats, Joe! As I've said in a previous comment, your blog is among my favorites. I rarely have time during the day to read as many blogs that I would like but yours I hit every morning - and sometimes and lucky enough to be able to read yours in the evening, just after a delicious update. I hope you continue your blogging adventures for many years to come.

Joe & Jeff, Congratulations on 3 years of blogging! Please, keep it up! I have used several of your recipes and most of them have become family favorites. I know when I need something special all I have to do is check your blog!

Joe, I could not believe how many comments you received so far. I am really devoted to your blog. I've been coming here almost every day, except for Holidays. I also left lot's of comments wishing that you would never stop. I love to read about everything you have to say: recipes, Jeff, your daily life, the dogs, your trips, your family etc. You can't quit because it's like a drug to me. I need to read what's going on and what you are baking or cooking. I also have lot's of recipes that I took from your blog and recreated. My two teenage sons loves your recipes. My son today said that I'm the best 'bakers' mom around. Again, yesterday, a friend came over and asked Mathieu where the treats were. I have to thank you because lot's of those treats came from your blog. I would not change anything, just continue doing what you are doing. I love it. Thanks for those three years.

Should you continue ? Good heavens. Some people say they start their day with a cup o' joe ? I start my day with Joe's blog ! Every morning you're the first site I go to see. So if you didn't continue ? GASP It'd be like a coffee-holic giving up caffeine. Just say no Joe :D Keep it going. You are an inspiration.

Wow! 93 comments! That has to be a record Joe! Congratulations on the three year mark-that is something to be truly proud of. You have an excellent voice for blogging, I hope you keep it up. I love it when I am eyeing a recipe, wondering if it is any good, and then I see it on your blog. Well done!

oh my goodness three years, congratulations and please dont stop!! i look forward to drooling over your recipes every few days, i have to admit that i read lots of food blogs but yours is the only one i have ever cooked from so please keep going.

The brownies look delicious, I love chocolate and coffee together!!Congratulations on your 3 years of blogging Joe, and yes, we are certainly still interested on your blog, it's been on my "daily blog visit" list since the beginning!!Ana

I just recently found your site, and now I'm a daily reader. I quite enjoyed your restaurant reviews, as a Phonecian, they were interesting and informative. I'd love to be entered into the drawing. dklars@aol.comThanks!

Joe, I absolutely love your blog.When I first found it, you were "In the Desert" and I very much enjoyed your trials and tribulations.Since you moved to MD as I was moving away; your sense of humor helped me laugh off a lot of what happened during our move.

I tend to get stuck in cooking *ruts* and needed inspiration.You certainly inspired me and your website is the first place where i look for new recipes. You made me think about food and flavors much differently than I ever had before.

Because so many of your recipes are quite healthy (and you can easily make substitutions to make them lower fat/calorie)you also became my go-to place to help keep my diet interesting.In 6 1/2 months I have lost 53 lbs.

My husband (and his coworkers when they come for dinner)always rave about the recipes I pick from your site.There has not been ONE dud in the mix. None of us cared for the cinnamon chip fudge but it made the house smell so good on Christmas that I would make it again just for that,lol.

Because my hubby does love your food so much;this site was obviously my first stop when I needed to send him (and since then,to other guys)goodies when he deployed to Iraq.I would actually send 4-5 different kinds of treats and we would have taste tests.

This was actually international as hubby would share snacks and stories w/ other coalition soldiers and of course the Iraqis he worked w/. They would in turn have their wives make their own specialties and share.Food really IS a common bond!

In regards to my hubby's job, I have always been known as "the cookie lady".It doesn't matter what I make, I am known for cookies,lol.You are one of the few other people I have known that makes it a ritual.So I felt a kinship immediately w/ your wednesday treat days.I just did it when hubby was flying around the world or sitting an alert shift (lock-up for 2-3 days).

More than that; your site has become such a constant in my life.It's one of my favorite stops every day when I sign on.I found you very comforting when I had to cook for "my boys" after a heartbreaking situation.Your recipes were ,luckily, pulled out for many more celebrations.You have just "been there" for almost 3 years and you will never know how much I appreciate the work you put into this.Once again, thank you.

Happy third birthday! I visit your blog every day, and often copy your recipes to try. I'm more of a baker than a cook, but you've inspired me to make some non-dessert items you have posted about. Love your warm writing style and wonderful photos. Appreciate all the effort you put in, and hope you'll continue!

Congratulations on three years, Joe and Jeff! You're so friendly and helpful, both on your blog and the CLBB - between that and your prolific posting schedule, you are one of the people I admire most in the cyber-food world. :)

Wow, what an amazing number of recipes in three years. Congratulations! Please continue your blog if you're up to it - I love checking in every few days. Some of my favorite cookie recipes come from your blog (I just switch them up a little to be gluten-free.)

1 income, 6 kids, 2 giant breed dogs, 2 cats, and 2 lizards all thank you for your many great (and now family fave) recipes.We are on a very tight budget and though some of your recipes have been too pricey for us, this is the first site I *always* check for wholesome new recipes. Have also more than appreciated your sharing of your local TC area sources with me, a transplant to the TC area.Pick me as your winner and I will share with you my recipe for the easiest and most to die for chocolate macaroons on the planet ;-)MZ

I absolutely adore your blog! I am continuously amazed with your energy, beautiful photographs and lovely descriptions of all that you make. Looking forward to the next 3 years of great blogging from you! :-)

Three is years is such a long time - I hope you don't decide to stop writing anytime soon! I love the breakdown you give of each of your recipes and reading your blog has become a happy habit of mine. I must say my very favorite recipe you have posted is your Baked Potato and Leek Soup with Cheddar and Bacon. It was so delicious!

Just discovered your blog a few weeks ago & have talked it up among my fellow avid cooks (and eaters!). Just a happy lurker, but want you to know your attention to detail is appreciated and admired....